Sussex Trifles

Hastings and Brighton are 2 of the few places that still observe an annual religious ceremony to mark the start of the fishing season! Called the Bending In Day (most likely derived from Benediction) when a priest would bless the fishing fleet before it set out to sea.

In 1790 a man sold his wife for half a pint of gin! She was delivered the following morning with a halter around her neck apparently delighted with the ceremony! No happy ending for her though as her husband later changed his mind and bought her back. He must have regretted his sale as her price had gone up!